Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aureliuswas Roman Emperor from 161 to 180. He ruled with Lucius Verus as co-emperor from 161 until Verus' death in 169. Marcus Aurelius was the last of the so-called Five Good Emperors. He was a practitioner of Stoicism, and his untitled writing, commonly known as the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, is the most significant source of our modern understanding of ancient Stoic philosophy...
NationalityRoman
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth26 April 121
CityRome, Italy
happens watch whatever
Whatever happens at all happens as it should; you will find this true, if you watch narrowly.
life surrender takes
Surrender your life serenely, as serenely as the One who takes it from you
book friend lots plain poems
Some good, some so-so, and lots plain bad: that's how a book of poems is made, my friend
accept court declining favor gave grave invitation reason repay socrates wish
Socrates gave as his reason for declining an invitation to the court of Perdiccas, "I have no wish to go down to my grave with ignominy;" implying that he would accept no favor which he could not repay
act execute last life though thy
Execute every act of life as though it were thy last
cannot comply willing wills wishes
Galla will, and will not comply with my wishes and I cannot tell with her willing and not willing, what she wills
enjoy good life men past span twice
Good men make life a twofold span to last: Twice does he live who can enjoy his past
however man
However much a man gives, there is more that he withholds
astonished happens man ridiculous
How ridiculous and unrealistic is the man who is astonished at anything that happens in life.
living men praise praised seen strangely themselves time value whom
How strangely men act. They will not praise those who are living at the same time and living with themselves; but to be themselves praised by posterity, by those whom they have never seen or ever will see, this they set much value on.
altogether points save trouble
I could do without your face, Chloe, and without your neck, and your hands, and your limbs, and to save myself the trouble of mentioning the points in detail, I could do without you altogether
order prepared
I mean, you never know how these things are going to go, but I always want to be prepared that I have everything in order so if I need to go then I can. Because, obviously, if there's not electric, there's not gas.
aim sin sinners spare writings
In all my writings my aim has been to spare sinners and assail sin
disappoint farce height thus
The height of farce it is, I ween, To be so perfumed and anointed, And when one's appetite's most keen, To have it thus most disappoint